The visit extended to two summers, converting Annemie from an alt-rock chick to a club disciple. Then a friend, horrified at how hard Annemie was striving, dragged her off to Ibiza to chill out. The prohibitive fees led her to take up a host of jobs – everything from working in a factory, a carwash, and a shop selling outrageously expensive clothes, to working with a doctor. However, the idea of a small town teenager scoring a recording contract seemed like a pipe dream, and the naturally creative Annemie, who was already showing a flair for art and fashion design, set her heart on attending the highly prestigious fashion school in Antwerp. I had written the song myself, and when I performed I got a really positive reaction it made me think ‘wow’ – I really enjoy this!” There was just a piano, and I had to sing live I was so nervous. It was in a theatre, so the audience was sitting down and it was very quiet.
“We played on a big stage, which was my first real singing experience. “The record company wanted something that sounded a bit Dutch or Flemish - it wasn’t until the track got really big that we realised Ian was a male’s name – everyone in the UK was expecting a man and looked really surprised when I turned up for gigs!”īorn in a small village, Herk-De-Stad in Belgium in 1978, Annemie had always loved singing, but got her first real taste of the music scene when she joined a dance band aged 17.
“Ian Van Dahl was just a project name,” laughs Annemie.
With its beautiful trancey chords and perfect sunny lyrics, it encapsulated feel good pop-dance crossover music, and sparked a burning debate – why would such a pretty girl be called Ian? Ian Van Dahl burst into the European consciousness in 2001 when debut single, ‘Castles In The Sky’ became the soundtrack to the summer.